NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 11 July 2017 – Magnetized Cell Structures Research
The orbiting Expedition 52 trio continued exploring magnetized cell structures today and worked on advanced repair tasks. Also, a new crew is in Moscow getting ready for its launch in less than three weeks.
Astronaut Peggy Whitson was back at work Tuesday running the Mag 3D cell culturing experiment all day. She peered at magnetic three-dimensional cell cultures through a microscope, specifically looking at the borders of the biocell structures. The biocells were then stowed in a science freezer before being injected with magnetic 3D culture media. Mag 3D observations may improve cell and tissue culture capabilities and research on orbit.
Though the space station is an orbiting laboratory, it is also a home that needs regular maintenance. Flight Engineer Jack Fischer put on his repairman’s hat today replacing a failed water separator inside the Tranquility module. The water separator is part of the Common Cabin Air Assembly that controls the station’s temperature and humidity.
Three upcoming station crew members are spending their final week in Moscow before heading to the launch site in Kazakhstan on Sunday. The experienced space trio will launch to space aboard the Soyuz MS-05 spacecraft July 28 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Expedition 52-53 crew members Randy Bresnik, Paolo Nespoli and Sergey Ryazanskiy will live aboard the station for 4-1/2 months.
On-Orbit Status Report
Node 3 Common Cabin Air Assembly (CCAA) Water Separator (WS) Change Out: Today, the crew replaced the Node 3 CCAA WS. The unit had experienced several water carryover events since May 3, 2017. To assist in preventing these events, ground teams adjusted the Node 3 Low Temperature Loop to reduce condensation rates. The failing unit esd operational for over 7 years with expected life of 5 years. Ground teams activated the newly repaired CCAA and are receiving good telemetry.
Magnetic 3 Dimensional (Mag 3D) Cell Culturing: With assistance from the Payload Developer, the crew used a microscope to view Magnetic 3D Biocells. They fixated the biocells and inserted them in to a Minus Eighty Degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI). This was followed by injections of Magnetic 3D cultures media into the multiwell Biocells. Cell cultures in space spontaneously grow in three dimensions, resulting in characteristics more representative of how cells grow and function in living organisms. But in microgravity, routine manipulation of cell cultures is challenging. This investigation uses magnetized cells and tools to make it easier to handle cells and cultures and to improve the reproducibility of experiments. This approach also makes it possible to generate two-dimensional cultures as controls, and to determine whether biological events in these monolayer cultures result from gravity or substrate attachment.
Microbial Monitoring System (MMS): The crew configured the hardware and collected low and high DNA concentration deionized water samples using the Razor Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Microbial Monitoring System. They then transferred data from the sample tests for downlink. The MMS supports crew testing and monitoring of the safety of water supplies on the ISS and is also applicable to future space missions where Earth-based testing would be difficult or impossible.
Habitability Walk-through: The crew will record and submit a walk-through video today documenting observations of life onboard ISS and providing insights related to human factors and habitability. The investigation collects observations about the relationship between crew members and their environment on the ISS. These observations can help spacecraft designers understand habitable volume requirements and whether a mission’s duration impacts how much space crewmembers need or not.
Today’s Planned Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Extremophiles Sampling Session B
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VIZIR. Modification of SM panels 114, 116 for ????-?? P/L
URAGAN. Observation and Photography
ECON-M. Observation and Photography
Calf Volume Measurement
Virus Definition File Update on Auxiliary Computer System [???] Laptops
CCAA Water Separator R&R
Magnetic 3D Cultures MELFI Operations
Acoustic Dosimeter Setup
Photography of SM SKK cartridge No.9
Combustion Integrated Rack Alignment Guide Install
WORF IPEHG Shutter Actuator System Procedure Review
Study of veins in lower extremities
Magnetic 3D Cultures Microscope Operations
Replacement of RSK2 Laptop Shell.
HRF1 PC 1 USB Load Installation [Aborted]
Search for equipment and procedure review to replace [???1] compressor.
Magnetic 3D Cultures Biocells Fixation
URAGAN. VSS P/L SW Adjustment and Test Imagery.
Glacier Desiccant Swap Alternate
Verification of ??-1 Flow Sensor Position
MELFI Ice Brick Insert
Auxiliary Computer Equipment Audit
Analysis of SM Atmosphere for Freon Using Freon Leak Analyzer/Detector (???)
Health Maintenance System (HMS) Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows (WinSCAT) Test
Magnetic 3D Cultures Inoculation
WORF IPEHG Shutter Actuation System Conference
MELFI Rodent Research Transfer
Max Cycle Ergometer w/ Vibration Isolation & Stabilization (CEVIS) Portable PFS Partial Set Up
Metal Oxide (METOX) Regeneration
Habitability Walk-through Video
Increment 51 Plaque Hanging
Completed Task List Items
Microbial Monitoring System On-Board Training
Microbial Monitoring System Setup, Preparation, and Sampling
Ground Activities
All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.
Node 3 CCAA Activation Post R&R
Three-Day Look Ahead:
Wednesday, 07/12: Max CEVIS session, TPF experiment setup, ELF sample holder exchange, RR Habitat restock
Thursday, 07/13: WORF PEHG/Shutter actuator system install, JEMRMS cable reconfig for BDS checkout, RR access unit cleaning
Friday, 07/14: Fluid Shifts, JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deplorer (SSOD) Removal, Optical Coherence Tomography
